April 29, 2014






Three days in Berlin. I'd figured I'd have coffee at The Barn (best coffee in town) on one of the days but we actually ended up there on all three (and even got to participate in a cupping on Saturday)! Happy days.



I didn't have a long list of have-to's but Katies blue cat and Almond toffee crunch was one of them. And strolling along the canal. This was my first time in Berlin in the spring time and oh, how lovely and green and blossoming it was!


We were in town for our uncle's wedding so it was lots of good family time!





Roamers was a new find, and a good one! I had poached eggs and Bircher müsli for breakfast, yums. (That guy working there has officially got the coolest tattoos.)





The party was held at Hütten Palast, a funky, cozy hotel in Neukölln. I stayed in the Heartbreaker caravan (picture above).




The day after we went out for falafel (apparently the best in town) to Babel (Kastanienallee 33). I had falafel and baba ganoush. Oh my. Need to figure how to make such heavenly baba ganoush!


What a weekend. Such lovely, unexpected encounters. (Danke Schön.)

April 24, 2014


Happy birthday mom!

April 23, 2014




The long-awaited table has arrived. It was the first my grandma and grandpa had together. (I love it when furniture has history; it's so rare these days! Back then you always knew either the carpenter or the previous owner..) This morning the table got to serve its first proper meal here, its first little party, as I had Kata over for brunch.

The table will collect a whole lot of good stories here.

April 21, 2014



Easter equals celebration, good food and good time with the family for me and this time wasn't any different. (I had my niece stay over: the best Company to watch films like Geek Charming and High School Musical!) My mom is as lovely as always and sent me this surprise!

(The recipe for the bread is e.g. here and here.)

April 18, 2014




I've got a lovely neighbor, Cilla's, on Viipurinkatu 8. We chatted for a good while with Cilla the other day about the things we are passionate about, like making everyday life beautiful, enjoying the little things (e.g. beautiful coffee packages) and good food and gathering around it with people you love. Her small shop is full of lovely things (which you can also buy online) for your home and kitchen (many of which are either organic or sustainably developed products). And she herself is quite lovely too. Go check this place out! (I left with the glasses from the first photo; I've been wanting to get them for a long time!)

April 17, 2014




Yesterday was so sunny and warm and I was so inspired that I just wanted to burst as I was walking in the sun (to GLC on Kolmas linja). Life is so beautiful and exciting!

PS. Good Life Coffee, my favorite coffee shop in town, is turning 2 tomorrow! Happy birthday!

April 16, 2014

Lunch egg roll


Here's a new lunch favorite. It's really quick and easy to make and basically you could go for any filling!

 

LUNCH EGG ROLL


2 organic eggs
2 tbsp milk of your choice
salt
coconut oil etc. for frying

2 to 3 good handfuls of fresh spinach
half an apple (or a small one)
3 to 4 tbsp ricotta


Rinse spinach well and blanch it in boiling water for about a minute until it wilts. Pour it in a colander and squeeze excess water out. Cut apple in half, core it and cut in thin slices. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Pour on a big frying pan (make with one egg if you've got a small pan; it rolls better when it's thinner), sprinkle salt to taste and fry on medium heat just until it's golden (you don't want a dry roll!) Place the omelette on a plate and spread layers of spinach, apple slices and ricotta in the middle and roll up. Cut in half for serving (just because it looks prettier!)

April 14, 2014






There was no other way to celebrate this new home than with a lavishing brunch (inspired a little by that of Sandro's) and the house full of people I love. The menu had salads (tomato mozzarella salad, sweet potato lentil salad, feta couscous salad, crunchy egg salad and green chickpea cucumber salad), broccoli tuna red onion quiche, salmon, potato & beet wedges, dips (hummus, tzatziki, pesto and beetroot avocado dip), malt bread & no-knead bread and fruits, raw blackcurrant cake, brownies and banana bread for dessert. Happy days.



April 10, 2014




Home.

April 7, 2014










Kirsi got a new home one block from mine. So good to have a neighbor! Exploring our hoods we went to Street Gastro the other day. They serve super good street food! (If there's lamb on the menu, it's your choice!)

J. Karjalainen played one of the best gigs I've ever been on last week. I was all thrilled and pleased and uplifted, oh boy. He and his guitar and his harmonica and his charisma. Oh!